SEMICHORUS. The blue smoke overhead Is turned to angry red. The fire, the fire, it stirs. Hark, a crackling sound, 1310 As when all around Ripened pods of furze Split in the parching sun Their dry caps one by one, And shed their seeds on the ground. --Ah! what clouds arise. Away! O come away. The wind-wafted smoke, Blowing all astray, Blinds and pricks my eyes. [PROMETHEUS, _after writing his name on the altar, goes out unobserved_.] Ah! I choke, I choke. --All the midst is rent: See, the twigs are all By the flaming spent White and gold, and fall. How they writhe, resist, Blacken, flake, and twist, Snap in gold and fall. --See the stars that mount, Momentary bright 1330 Flitting specks of light More than eye can count. Insects of the air, As in summer night Show a fire in flying Flickering here and there, Waving past and dying. --Look, a common cone Of the mountain pine Solid gold is grown; 1340 Till its scales outshine, Standing each alone In the spiral rows Of their fair design, All the brightest shows Of the sun's decline. --Hark, there came a hiss, Like a startled snake Sliding through the brake. Oh, and what is this? 1350 Smaller flames that flee Sidelong from the tree, Hark, they hiss, they hiss. --How the gay flames flicker, Spurting, dancing, leaping Quicker yet and quicker, Higher yet and higher, --Flaming, flaring, fuming, Cracking, crackling, creeping, Hissing and consuming: 1360 Mighty is the fire. IN. Stay, stay, cease your rejoicings. Where is he, The prophet,--nay, what say I,--the god, the giver? CHOR. He is not here--he is gone. IN. Search, search around. Search all, search well. CHOR. He is gone,--he is not here. IN. The palace gate lies open: go, Argeia, Maybe he went within: go seek him there. [_Exit_ AR. Look down the sea road, down the country road: Follow him if ye see him. CHOR. He is not there. IN. Strain, strain your eyes: look well: search everywhere. Look townwards--is he there? _Part of_ CHORUS _returning_. He is not there.-- 1371 _Other part returning._ He is not there. _Argeia re-entering._ AR. He is not there. CHOR. O see! CHOR. See where? CHOR. See on the altar--see! CHOR. What see ye on the altar? CHOR. Here in front Words newly writ. CHOR. What words?